Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said Google is a tech giant whose name conveys instant validity within the industry. Another plus: Google is working with the Tennessee Valley Authority to power the data hub with 100 percent renewable energy.

“There are few brands more powerful than Google’s, and the company’s investment in Jackson County sends the message that Alabama is primed for high-tech projects,” Secretary Canfield said. “Alabama has assembled a formidable auto industry with four top global brands, and we’re positioned to become a hub of aircraft production with Airbus. We want to raise Alabama’s profile in the tech sector, and we think Google’s stamp of approval will help us accomplish that.”

Governor Robert Bentley and economic development leaders from around the state also said they believe that Google’s decision to locate its first U.S. data center since 2007 in Alabama will provide a boost to the state’s technology sector. The Google Alabama data center will employ up to 100 people in its initial phase.

“The Google announcement is just tremendous,” Knighton told Alabama NewsCenter. “Its brand recognition and corporate reputation bring attention to the fact that Alabama is a great place for knowledge-based companies across many sectors. We could not be happier that Google has chosen Alabama for such significant investment.”